I've got an SZR660 which doesn't really go at the moment (it will live again, I tell you...), and a TRX850 which goes like shit off a shovel, but which I've just put lovely sticky tyres on (the holy 010s) and I don't want to waste the nice new rubber on commuting.

Also, I've not got that much spare cash at the moment, so although I'd love to buy a nice new Husky or CCM, that'll have to wait a bit. So...I bought a Shite Old Bike for 300 quid from a dodgy geezer in South London...

After some initial problems (predictably enough, given the vendor, a dodgy spark plug was involved) the burgundy offense to good taste that is a Honda Benly fired into life with rather a rorty sound for a twenty year old 200cc inline twin. I took it around the block. Or rather I would have had I been able to slow down enough to make the turning - so I ended up going round three blocks. Jésus Christos, but these things don't like to stop. I suppose I've been spoiled as I've not ridden anything in the last 5 years or so that didn't have a least one BFO disk brake on the front

So - what exactly is a CD200 Benly? Well the raw facts: Manufactured 1980-85, 194cc OHC twin, 16hp, 70mph, 100mpg, 290lbs - and it's as shite as that sounds. However, 100mpg isn't to be sniffed at for something which is to be purely a commuting tool.

The used bike guide to CD200s says "later Benly’s were tougher but slow" (it also says "Check out state of the spark plugs" ... ahem), and I'd say from my initial rides on the thing that this is about right. It doesn't go, or stop, or handle - but for some reason it's still a bit of a laugh to ride - and although it's 100% definitely slow compared to anything remotely modern it's still quick enough to beat cars off the lights. OK, admittedly slow cars that are driven by people who aren't really trying, but you know what I mean.

Basically, I've added another bike to my collection for less than the cost of getting the TRX serviced and new tyres fitted - and the thing only cost 80 quid to insure as well, so I'm hoping it's going to cut down my commuting expenses somewhat.

I've also recently signed up with a breakdown and recovery service. Absolutely nothing to do with having bought a SOB - oh, no...